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Three players that can make an impact in Finals Series

August 29, 2018

They’ve helped their clubs to the Premiership in their respective competitions, but can these leading goalscorers take their form into the Finals Series?

Here’s an insight into the players who can have an impact come finals time.

NPL: MAREK MADLE, LIONS FC

Lions FC’s Marek Madle has made quite the impression since joining the NPL team in June.

A natural at finding the back of the net, Madle scored 23 goals in 14 games for FQPL side Holland Park Hawks and was the league’s leading goalscorer before moving to Lions mid-season.

His goal-scoring success continued following his move to the NPL Queensland, scoring 18 goals in 13 games for Lions and scoring in all but one game for the club in the regular season, making him the team’s leading goal-scorer despite only being at the club for the second half of the season.

The recently-crowned Premiers are yet to lose a game since having Madle in the team and in his last three games he has scored a remarkable seven goals to help his side to the Premiership.

It is this incredible goal-scoring ability that will be vital for Lions if they are to continue their success throughout the Finals Series.

NPLW: TIARNE PETTERWOOD, THE GAP FC

The Gap FC’s Tiarne Petterwood started off this NPLW season in the best possible way, scoring an incredible seven goals in her team’s Round 1 win over Mudgeeraba Soccer Club.

That was just the beginning of Petterwood’s goal-scoring barrage which has continued all season – a season in which she has scored five or more goals on three occasions for The Gap.

Her recent form has been some of her most consistent all year – Petterwood has scored a remarkable 17 goals in her last eight games to help The Gap claim the NPLW Premiership and finished the regular season as the second highest goalscorer in the league, behind Meaghan McElligott.

It’s little wonder The Gap have won their last 15 games with a player like Petterwood at the helm, whose impressive ability to find the back of the net will prove vital throughout the Finals Series.

A WORD FROM A TEAMMATE:

“She [Petterwood] just has a clinical finish and I think in previous seasons we’ve been missing that, so she’s integrated so well into the team,” The Gap FC captain Ruth Blackburn said.

FQPL: DEAN BRIGGS, PENINSULA POWER

Despite missing some games through injury, Peninsula Power’s Dean Briggs ended the regular season as the team’s leading goalscorer with the most assists.

In a remarkable year for the FQPL Premiers, they remained undefeated throughout the entire regular season with 17 of their players scoring throughout the year.

Of these, four players scored 10 or more goals.

The club’s leading goalscorer Briggs scored 20 goals in 22 games this season; but in addition to his goal-scoring prowess, it’s his ability to set up goals that makes him such an impactful player for Power.

While they’ve already secured the Premiership, the next goal for the club will be riding this momentum all the way to Grand Final glory.

Briggs will be instrumental in ensuring the NPL-bound Power can continue their winning ways throughout the Finals Series.

A WORD FROM THE COACH:

“Dean’s had a really good year and he has a big impact in the team,” Peninsula Power Coach Aaron Philp said.

“He has a good strike rate and a good quick shot, he’s dangerous around the ball and he’s a handful for oppositions.”